Increasing racial diversity, equity and inclusion in the PA profession.

What is Represent?

NCCPA thanks all attendees for an energizing REPRESENT! Summit. Check out our photo gallery for more images from the event. Attendees can also view and download images from REPRESENT! via the hyperlink below.

REPRESENT! is a 1.5 day in person NCCPA summit on increasing racial diversity, equity and inclusion in the PA profession. The inaugural event will take place September 8-9, 2022. The REPRESENT! Summit is by invitation only, and will be attended by clinically practicing PAs, PA faculty, PA students, leaders of PA organization, physicians and employers. Invited guests were selected by the REPRESENT! Summit steering committee, a group of PAs representing the four major PA organizations- NCCPA, AAPA, ARC-PA, and PAEA.

Comprised of discussions, guided activities, panels and poster exhibitions, REPRESENT! attendees will explore strategies to:

Develop/sustain DEI efforts in PA organizations, workplaces that employ PAs and/or PA programs
Promote inclusivity within PA educational and workplace communities
Diversify the PA workforce and address health equity gaps

Location

The inaugural Represent Summit will take place at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights in Atlanta, Georgia.

The museum is located at

100 Ivan Allen Jr. Boulevard
Atlanta, Georgia 30313

Founded in 2014, is a museum and human rights organization in Atlanta that inspires people to tap their own power to change the world around them. The Center’s iconic exhibitions feature the papers and artifacts of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.; the history of the US civil rights movement; and stories from the struggle for human rights around the world today.

Represent Summit attendees will have access to the museum and all of its attractions free of charge for the duration of the conference.

Getting to the Museum

Directions from Southbound I-75/85

Exit 249C Williams St.
Turn right onto Ivan Allen Jr. Blvd.

Directions from Northbound I-75/85

Exit 249D Spring St./W. Peachtree St.
Turn right onto Spring St. ramp toward Centennial Olympic Park Dr.
Bear right onto Centennial Olympic Park Dr.
Take immediate left at traffic light onto Ivan Allen Jr. Blvd.

Directions from MARTA: Civic Center Station

Exit at the Civic Center MARTA station
Head right on West Peachtree St NW toward Ivan Allen Jr. Blvd
Turn right onto Ivan Allen Jr. Blvd
Cross the road at Centennial Olympic Park Drive so you are on the left side of traffic but continue on Ivan Allen Jr. Blvd.
You will see The Center and its water features on your left at 100 Ivan Allen Jr. Blvd.
Use the stairs on the left of the building to reach the ticket office. The wheelchair accessible path to the ticket office is to the right of the building

Directions from MARTA: Peachtree Center Station

Exit at the Peachtree Center Station
Head SW on Forsyth St. NW toward Carnegie Way
Turn Right onto Carnegie Way
Turn left onto Andrew Young International Blvd.
Turn right onto Williams St.
Turn left onto Simpson St.
Turn right onto Centennial Olympic Park Dr.
Turn right onto Ivan Allen Jr. Blvd.
Use the stairs on the left of the building to reach the ticket office. The wheelchair accessible path to the ticket office is to the right of the building

Atlanta Streetcar

Use the Centennial Olympic Park stop.

Parking

Parking is available at the World of Coca-Cola or Georgia Aquarium parking garages.

Parking is free for attendees for the duration of the Represent Summit.

Summit Agenda

Day One Agenda*

September 8, 2022

7:30 AM – Check-In Opens
8:00 AM– Breakfast
9:00 AM – Welcome and Opening Remarks
2022 NCCPA Board Chair Katherine GeeBah Footracer, MS, PA-C
NCCPA President and CEO Dawn Morton-Rias, Ed.D., PA-C

9:15 AM – Introduction: Getting Hearts & Minds Ready

Icebreaker Activity and Rules of Engagement

9:45 AM – PA Professional Panel

Moderated by Shani Fleming, MSHS, MPHS, PA-C
Panelists: Calbeth Alaribe, MPH, MS/PA, Temple Howell-Stampley, MD, MBA, FACP, Daytheon Sturges, PhD, MPAS, PA-C, DFAAPA, CAHIMS, CHES® and Elias Villarreal, Jr., MPAS, DMSc, PA-C, DFAAPA

10:45 AM – BREAK

11:00 AM – Everyday Inclusion Behaviors Part I

12:00 PM – LUNCH

1:00 PM – Everyday Inclusion Behaviors Part II

2:00 PM – BREAK

2:15 PM – Everyday Equity Behaviors Part I

3:00 PM – BREAK

3:15 PM – Everyday Equity Behaviors Part II

4:00 PM – Day 1 Wrap-Up

4:05 PM – Poster Exhibition and Museum Tour (self-guided)

5:00 PM – Networking Reception

Day 2 Agenda *

September 9, 2022

7:30 AM – Breakfast

8:00 AM – Keynote Address
Dr. Uché Blackstock

8:30 AM- BREAK

8:45 AM – PA Cross-Organizational Panel on DEI Efforts
Cross-Organizational Leaders

9:45 AM – PA Cross-Organizational Pledge Presentation
PA Cross-Organizational Executive Leaders and 2022 Board Chairs

10:00 AM – BREAK

10:15 AM – Call to Action

11:15 AM – Next steps and closing remarks

11:30 AM – Networking Lunch

*Agenda subject to change

Summit Speaker & Panelists

Inaugural REPRESENT Summit Keynote Speaker: Dr. Uché Blackstock

Dr. Uché Blackstock is a physician and thought leader on bias and racism in health care. Dr. Blackstock founded Advancing Health Equity in 2019 with the goal of partnering with health care organizations to dismantle racism in healthcare and to close the gap in racial health inequities.

In 2019, Dr. Blackstock was recognized by Forbes magazine as one of “10 Diversity and Inclusion Trailblazers You Need to Get Familiar With”. In 2020, she was one of thirty-one inaugural leaders awarded an unrestricted grant for her advocacy work from the Black Voices for Black Justice Fund.

Dr. Blackstock’s writing, including numerous OpEd’s, has been featured in the Chicago Tribune, Scientific American, the Washington Post and STAT News for the Boston Globe. In June 2020 she became a Yahoo! News Medical Contributor and appeared regularly on radio and cable news programming to discuss the Coronavirus pandemic and to raise the alarm about racial health inequities.

In April 2021, Dr. Blackstock became an exclusive MSNBC medical contributor. In June 2021, she signed a book deal with Penguin Random House Books for her generational memoir, Legacy: A Black Physician Reckons with Racism in Medicine. Legacy is due to be published in July 2023. Dr. Blackstock is a former Associate Professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine and the former Faculty Director for Recruitment, Retention and Inclusion in the Office of Diversity Affairs at NYU School of Medicine. She left her position at NYU School of Medicine in December 2019 after 10 years on faculty to focus her time and efforts on Advancing Health Equity.

Dr. Blackstock received both her undergraduate and medical degrees from Harvard University.

Hotel Accommodations

Nearby Hotels

Atlanta offers a number of fine hotels for lodging. Below is a list of hotels closest to the event location:

Hilton Garden Inn: Call 404-577-2001
Embassy Suites, Centennial Olympic Park: Call 1-800-HILTONS
The Glenn Hotel: Call 1-888-236-2427
Atlanta Marriott Marquis: Call 1-866-469-5475
Hyatt Regency Atlanta: Call 404-460-6536

Meet the 2022 Panelists

Daytheon Sturges

Daytheon Sturges, PhD, MPAS, PA-C, DFAAPA, CAHIMS, CHES® is an Assistant Professor and Vice Chair for JEDI in the Department of Family Medicine, Associate Program Director of Regional Affairs, Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, as well as Interim Associate Program Director of Academic Affairs at the University of Washington – Department of Family Medicine– MEDEX Northwest PA Program.

A native of Haynesville, Louisiana, Sturges received his bachelor of science degree in biology from Louisiana Tech University. He also obtained a bachelor of science degree and master of PA studies degree from Louisiana State University– Shreveport. Later, he completed a doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.) in health studies (community health promotion and health education) with a focus on higher education at Texas Woman’s University.

Aside from his PA certification, Dr. Sturges is also a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES®) and a Certified Associate in Healthcare Information and Management Systems (CAHIMS).

He has practiced in several medical disciplines including primary care, internal medicine, orthopedic surgery, and rheumatology; but is passionate about providing care to the whole family.

Sturges is active in the Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA), where he serves as the chair of the Diversity and Inclusion Mission Advancement Commission, as a Faculty Jumpstart Workshop facilitator, and as a member of the Editorial Advisory Board and the former Justice, Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion (JEDI) feature editor for the Journal of PA Education.

He is a Distinguished Fellow of the American Academy of PAs, where he is a member of the Constituent Relations Workgroup. Sturges was the 2021 recipient of PAEA’s Rising Star Award.

Temple Howell-Stampley

Temple Howell-Stampley, MD, MBA, FACP is Department Chair and Program Director of the Master of Physician Assistant Studies Program at UT Southwestern Medicine Center. She is a native of North Carolina and alumna of North Carolina A & T State University. Dr. Howell-Stampley earned her medical degree from East Carolina University – The Brody School of Medicine and completed a residency in Internal Medicine at UTSW before joining the Division of General Internal Medicine in 1997. As a clinician educator, Dr. Howell-Stampley built a productive primary care practice while teaching scores of health professions students and Internal Medicine residents in training. A brief diversion into private practice served to reinforce her passion for patient care, education and mentorship. Ultimately, this passion led her to return to UT Southwestern.

Upon returning to UT Southwestern, Dr. Howell-Stampley assumed a leadership role within the Department of Internal Medicine. She was named Medical Director of Outpatient Services and served in this capacity until her transition to the UTSW School of Health Professions in 2017.To supplement her campus leadership roles and experiences, Dr. Howell-Stampley earned an MBA with High Distinction in Healthcare Organization Leadership from UT Dallas, Jindal School of Management.

In her role as an institutional leader, Dr. Howell-Stampley remains true to patient care, education and mentorship. She has selflessly given her time to UTSW, serving on numerous committees, task forces, and working groups. In these roles, she has served as a tireless voice and advocate for improved patient care through organizational optimization. She has been a champion for team-based care models that emphasize the critical role of Advanced Practice Providers in successful health care delivery systems.

Dr. Howell-Stampley is the 1st African American Department Chair in the history of UTSW and in 2021 became the 1st African American Master of Cary College in the UTSW Medical School’s Academic Colleges. Dr. Howell-Stampley uses her platform as an educator and leader to inspire the next generation of health care providers and students interested in STEM. In 2020, she received The Dallas Chapter of the Links, Inc. “Women Who Steam” Award. This award exemplifies her ongoing commitment in sharing the value and joy in STEM with African American youth in her local community.

Dr. Howell-Stampley is a Master in the American College of Physicians. She was a dedicated member of the TX Chapter of American College of Physicians Board of Directors, Dallas County Medical Society Board of Directors, and is currently in her second term as a member of the NCCPA Board of Directors.

Dr. Howell-Stampley has over 29 years of combined clinical practice, medical and PA education, leadership, and service to UTSW. In addition to her professional work, Dr. Howell-Stampley is married 25 years to her husband, Marion Stampley, Jr, JD with 3 young adults, Marion A. Stampley, III (22), Madison A. Stampley (20) and Morgan A. Stampley (16).

Shani Fleming

Shani Fleming, MSHS, MPHS, PA-C has devoted her career to equity, diversity, inclusion and social justice within the healthcare community . She holds significant clinical experience as a Physician Assistant (PA) working in family medicine, infectious disease, and urgent care. Shani is an Associate Professor at the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) Graduate School PA program, Intercultural Leadership certificate and Masters of Diversity, Inclusion, Equity Leadership program. She is the Chief Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity Officer of the UMB Graduate School and serves on the executive leadership team of the Physician Assistant Leadership and Learning Academy.

She is considered a diversity and inclusion leader within National and State organizations, reaching thousands of underrepresented racial and ethnic high school and college students advocating for inclusion, diversity, and equity in PA education. She advocates for faculty of color within PA programs and encourages inclusive and just environments for all. Prof . Fleming is a proud HBCU graduate of University of Maryland Eastern Shore, and completed her Physician Assistant studies, Master of Public Health and Master of Science in Health Science from George Washington University. She is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Language, Literacy, and Culture from the University of Maryland Baltimore County.

Calbeth Alaribe

Calbeth Chika Alaribe, MPH, MS/PA is an accomplished and innovative global health leader who is passionate about medicine, global healthcare management, and social entrepreneurship. She is committed to improving access to quality and affordable healthcare globally; as well as, diversifying the health workforce & promoting gender parity. She is recent graduate of the Morehouse School of Medicine Physician Assistant (PA) program.

Prior to attending PA school, she served as Vice President of Healthcare Operations for Betal Home Care Services, LLC.; served as the Chapter Development Lead for Women in Global Health (WGH), an organization focused on achieving gender equality in healthcare leadership. As the Chapter Development Lead, she provided strategic direction and planning in developing chapters worldwide and expanding the presence of WGH in the global health community. From 2018-2020, Calbeth led efforts in growing the network by scaling up the chapter model from 5 chapters to over 15 chapters by May 2020 (at least one chapter in all 4 continents and in each region in Africa). She also facilitated and managed collaborative relationships with stakeholders within global health organizations including the World Health Organization (WHO) and various health ministries. Currently, she is the Co-Founder and Co-Chair of the Nigerian Chapter of WGH.

As a first-generation Nigerian American, Calbeth has a passion for developing sustainable and innovative initiatives that will solve complex global health issues and strengthen health care systems in Africa and in the United States, including racism in healthcare. It is with this passion that she started a healthcare tech company, Coyfish, after winning a health care hackathon at MIT focused on dismantling racism in healthcare. Coyfish aims to change the dynamic of healthcare by putting choice and power back; as well as improving health outcomes for Millennial and Generation Z patients. Last year, Coyfish won semifinalist at Pharrell Williams’s inaugural “Black Ambition” accelerator program and was finalist for MassChallenge.

Her passion for health equity is not only shown through the development of initiatives, but also, through research. She has co-authored research in the Pan African Medical Journal; as well as presented research in improving the quality of care and safety of patients in low resource clinics at the Institute for Healthcare Improvement conference in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

In 2020, she published an article in the Pennsylvania Psychologist focused on COVID-19 and its impact on health disparities in the U.S. As a result of her entrepreneurial and research efforts, she was named Morehouse School of Medicine’s 2021 Top 10 under 40 recipient.

Calbeth completed her master’s in public health with a concentration in global health at Emory University. She is also a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives.

Elias Villarreal, Jr.

Elias Villarreal, Jr., MPAS, DMSc, PA-C, DFAAPA is currently Associate Dean and Founding Program Director at the University of California San Diego PA Program where he also holds an Associate Professor faculty appointment. He has been employed in PA education since 1998 and is a licensed PA in Texas, Ariziona, and California. Dr. V, as his students refer to him, was born and raised in rural South Texas and now resides in San Diego, California.

Meet the Facilitator: Theresa M. Robinson, BA, MA, ABD

Theresa Robinson is an ATD certified Master Trainer, professional speaker, advisor, coach, and author. One of seven anti-racism educators of 2020 featured in Forbes, Theresa is a “disruptive inclusionist” in the anti-racism and DEI space, focusing on the uncomfortable conversations and the self-work necessary for growth and change.

She is also the founder and president of Master Trainer TMR & Associates, a DEI, Anti-Racism, and Well-Being training firm. Averaging 50+ speaking engagements annually since 2005, Theresa has partnered with over 125 clients in 23 countries. Her client list includes corporate executives from a wide range of Fortune 500 companies including Microsoft, Nationwide, Deloitte, Mars, Allstate, Disney, KPMG, General Electric, Cisco, John Deere, Marriott, Nordstrom, Procter & Gamble, Novartis, Johnson & Johnson, ExxonMobil, Walmart, and Bristol-Myers Squibb.

With a style that is direct and relational, Theresa delivers transformational learning experiences to equip leaders with the awareness, competency, confidence, and desire to sustainably model everyday habits of Anti-Racism, Equity, Inclusion, and Well-Being. She also equips organizations with the foundation to effectively assess and implement more inclusive and equitable policies, practices, and processes. She calls this…doing the “HEART” Work.

Theresa has an MA; ABD in African-American Literature and Shakespeare from Cornell University and a BA in English from Howard University. She is also the author of four books.

COVID-19 Protocols

In order to ensure a safe event for everyone, NCCPA has instituted the following safety protocols:

All attendees, employees of NCCPA, and vendors on site during the duration of the event must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as defined by the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention.
Attendees must show proof of vaccination in order to be granted entry into the event. Proof of vaccination will be facilitated through ShareMy.Health.
Attendees and vendors on site during the duration of the event that are not vaccinated or do not wish to show proof of vaccination, or have a reason for exemption must provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test 48 hours prior to the event by uploading their test results to the ShareMy.Health platform.
Any attendee of the REPRESENT! Summit that becomes ill during the event, or tests positive for COVID-19 during or within three days after the event must notify the event organizers immediately by email at . While your name will remain anonymous, guests will be notified of possible exposure to COVID-19 via email.
While not required, attendees, employees of NCCPA and vendors on site during the duration of the event are strongly encouraged to wear masks. Masks and hand sanitizers will be available at the event to all Summit participants.
For any questions regarding the COVID-19 protocols, or the REPRESENT! Summit please contact us at .

Represent Summit FAQs

Why was the REPRESENT! Summit created?

The REPRESENT! Summit was created to facilitate a conversation among clinically practicing PAs, PA faculty, leaders of PA organizations, PA students, physicians, employers and other relevant stakeholders regarding DEI in the PA profession. The intent of the Summit is to foster change by equipping all attendees with actionable steps, resources and best practices to address PA DEI challenges within their workplaces, PA programs and/ or organizations.

NCCPA is the certifying body. Why are they hosting the REPRESENT! Summit?

While NCCPA’s primary focus is providing certification programs that reflect standards for clinical knowledge, clinical reasoning and other medical skills and professional behaviors required upon entry into practice and throughout the careers of PAs, we do believe that all members of the PA community share a responsibility for ensuring that the profession is diverse, equitable and inclusive for all who choose to be a PA.

Our quarterly statistical reports indicate that diversity within the profession is declining, despite an increasingly diverse patient population. Studies have indicated that patients generally fare better when care is provided by diverse teams, raising the need for a more diverse PA workforce.

In 2020 NCCPA also conducted weekly roundtable discussions with PAs from across the country, who highlighted the need for a larger conversation and call to action regarding DEI in the profession. NCCPA is proud to facilitate the discussion, and looks forward to working with other PA organizations, groups, PAs and other relevant stakeholders to address the issue.

Who will attend the REPRESENT! Summit?

The REPRESENT! Summit will be attended by invited clinically practicing PAs, PA educators, PA students, leaders of PA organizations, physicians, employers and other relevant stakeholders.

Why is the REPRESENT! Summit limited to invited guests?

We are still in a pandemic. In an effort to ensure the health and safety of all attendees, and to maintain social distancing measures most effectively we are limiting the number of guests.

I was not invited to attend the Represent Summit. How were the attendees selected?

Attendees were selected by the Summit Steering Committee, a group of PAs representing each of the four major PA organizations- NCCPA, AAPA, PAEA and ARC-PA.

I can't attend the Represent Summit. Can my colleague go in my place?

Invited guests for the Represent Summit were selected by the Summit Steering Committee. If you cannot attend the Summit, and know of someone who would like to attend please have them email us at to request an invitation.

Can students attend the Represent Summit?

A limited number of spaces are available for PA students to attend. The deadline for interested students to submit applications to attend concluded on April 30.

Is there a cost to attend the Represent Summit?

There is no registration fee to attend the Represent Summit. Summit attendees will receive complimentary breakfast and lunch on both days of the event. Parking and admission to the museum exhibits is complimentary also. Attendees will be responsible for their hotel, flight and ground transportation costs.